TARUT ISLAND — The Civil Defense ordered the evacuation of 215 students and 23 teachers from a boys school in the town of Snabes, Tarut Island, due to a methane leak and another gas leakage at the school's laboratory. One worker was taken to hospital for gas inhalation while he tried to get rid of the fumes in the laboratory. Al-Kindi elementary school in Sehat near Qatif was also evacuated due to an electrical short circuit, with no reported injuries. The Civil Defense said the situation there has returned to normal and students can attend school again. Spokesman for the Eastern Province's education directorate Khalid Al-Hammad said the gas leak at the boys school was dealt with, adding it happened at a temporary school building. He said the school would be moving into permanent premises soon. The electrical shortage at the elementary school, he said, resulted in the emission of fumes and students were evacuated to the schoolyard. The problem was dealt with on the spot and students returned to classes. — SG
